Holding element for ski boot

ABSTRACT

A holding element for a boot intended for skiing which boot abuts with a forward section of its sole on both sides against a side support disposed on a ski binding, which prevents the movement of the boot sideways and forwards in relation to the ski, whereby the boot can be pressed by a pivotably mounted shackle in the direction toward the ski in order to be held firmly in the binding, which shackle can be made to lie from above against the edge of the sole within at least a part of the said forward section, and can be locked in this position, the holding element being attached to the sole of the boot and having an upward projection which abuts against a forward portion of the shackle to retain the boot against backward movement along the ski.

United States Patent Inventors Alvar Eskil Petrus Kjellstrom Sollentuna; Ake Einar Charles Molin, Nybro, both of d [21] Appl. No. 1 1,963 [22] Filed Feb. 17, 1970 [45] Patented Oct. 12, 1971 [73] Assignee AB Broderna Kjellstrom Solna, Sweden [54] HOLDING ELEMENT FOR SKI BOOT 7 Claims, 2 Drawing Figs. 52 us. Cl 2230/1135}; P'- 36/2.5 AL [51] Int. Cl A631: 9/20 [50] Field ofSearch 280/l1.35; 36/2.5 AA [56 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,868,386 7/1936 Gresvig 280/1 1.35 (B) 3,481,618 12/1969 With 280/l1.35(B) Primary Examiner-Benjamin Hersh Assistant Examiner-Milton L. Smith Attorney-Irons, Birch, Swindler & McKie ABSTRACT: A holding element for a boot intended for skiing which boot abuts with a forward section of its sole on both sidesagainst a side support disposed on a ski binding, which prevents the movement of the boot sideways and forwards in relation to the ski, whereby the boot can be pressed by a pivotably mounted shackle in the direction toward the ski in order to be held firmly in the binding, which shackle can be made to lie from above against the edge of the sole within at least a part of the said forward section, and can be locked in this position, the holding element being attached to the sole of the boot and having an upward projection which abuts against a forward portion of the shackle to retain the boot against backward movement along the ski.

. HOLDING ELEMENT FOR SKI BOOT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Known ski bindings of this kind are provided on the mounting plate between the side supports with upward directed pegs that cooperate with recesses in the sole of the ski through engagement with the said recesses. This position fixing has the purpose in the first place to prevent backward shifting of the boot along the ski, while the forward movement of the boot is already prevented by the width of the sole of the boot diminishing toward the front and a corresponding skewing of the side supports. With reference to the forward displacement of the boot, a reinforcement of the motion preventing function of the side supports is obtained from the pegs and recesses also in ordinary cases where this is rarely necessary.

The device described above is subject to two significant disadvantages. The recesses in the boot sole easily become clogged with snow, sand or the like, when the skier prior to putting on the skis has to walk on the ground. Furthermore those surfaces of the sole that are in contact with the pegs in the recesses are often exposed to a much too high surface pressure relative to the strength characteristics of the material, which rather soon leads to an enlargement of the recesses and consequently an unsatisfactory position fixing.

The invention addresses itself to eliminating the said disadvantages. This is achieved in that the boot is provided with a holding element formed as in the patent claims below. This holding element replaces entirely the pegs and recesses and results in an easily managed effective and wear resistant device for fixing the boot in the longitudinal direction of the ski.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Broadly the invention is directed to a holding element for a boot having a sole with a forward section which abuts on both sides against a pair of opposed side supports disposed on a ski binding. The side supports prevent movement of the boot sideways and forward in relation to the ski whereby the boot can be pressed by a pivotably mounted shackle in the direction toward the ski in order to be held firmly in the binding. The shackle is adapted to be locked in position against the upper front edge of the sole to retain the sole against upward movement away from the ski. The holding element of the invention comprises a member having an upwardly directed projection attached to the upper front edge of the sole and extending crosswise in relation to the ski over a substantial width of said front edge, said projection having side portions extending backward relative to the boot. Each said side portion defining a rearwardly facing stop surface to abut against a forwardly facing part of the shackle when said shackle is in its locked position against the edge of the sole, whereby a dislocation of the boot backward along the ski is prevented.

In the following some embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings.

FIG 1 shows in perspective a boot with holding element which represents an embodiment of the invention and gives large contact surfaces for the clamping device.

FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment which corresponds functionally to the previous one. In this figure the boot clamped in the binding on the ski is likewise shown in perspec tive. The clamping device represented can also be used for the boot of FIG. I.

The boot shown in both figures lies in the toe area with the sole 1 on both sides against the side supports 2 of the ski binding and is consequently held fast in the sideways direction with reference to the ski. Through the forward diminishing width of the sole of the boot and the customary skewing of the side sup ports the boot can be carried forward into the binding only to a certain final position. In order to press the toe section of the boot downward against the ski a clamping device 3 in the form of a shackle is provided, which is pivotably mounted with its ends 4 on the side supports 2. In FIG. 2 a device is indicated which gives an example of how the clamping device is disposed in known manner and can be locked in its position of engagement with the sole of the boot. From the figure it is also apparent that a part of the shackle lies against the upper front edge of the sole to hold the front part of the sole down adjacent to the ski.

According to the invention the sole of the boot of FIG. 1 and 2 is provided with a holding element permanently attached to the edge of the sole.

In the boot shown in FIG. 1 the holding element of the invention is formed as a metal fitting permanently attached to the sole of the boot. This fitting is elongated and follows the edge of the sole on the upper side of which it is placed, substantially over its entire width. The fitting has an L-shaped cross-sectional profile and consequently presents two flanges, of which one flange l2 lies against the upper front edge of the sole of the boot and is attached to the same and the other flange 13 is directed upward from the sole. The rearwardly facing surface 14 of flange 13 has a form adapted to a forwardly facing part 15 (FIG. 2) of the clamping device and represents a stop surface preventing the backward movement of the boot, which stop has a large contact surface with reference to the clamping device. The flange 13 has a central recess 16 which serves as a passage opening for a section of clamping device 3, which extends forward in the longitudinal direction of the ski, where it cooperates with the locking device 5 (FIG. 2) when the clamping device is applied.

Regardless of the fact that also a plurality of other fastening methods could be used, the fitting 11 shown in FIG. 1 can be screwed onto the sole with wood screws or sheetmetal screws. Fitting 11 has in flange 12 preferably several fastening holes for screwing in screws from above. The holes for the screws inserted from above shall be so disposed that the screw heads will lie under clamping device 3 and thereby will be held down by the clamping device when the same is applied.

In the embodiment represented in FIG. 2 the holding element is formed as a bead 17. The sole and the bead suitably consist of the same material, for example, rubber. The bead can thereby be manufactured as a separate unit that subsequently is combined permanently with the sole, for example, by vulcanizing. The bead and the sole can also be made simultaneouslyin one piece. The back side of the bead is so formed that it receives a rearwardly facing stop surface 18 which corresponds perfectly to the stop surface 14 in FIG. 1. The front side is suitably so formed that itjoins the front edge of the sole smoothly. Functionally this embodiment offers the same advantages as those described with reference to the embodiment of FIG. 1. The head 17 is, for the same reason as in the case of flange 13 in FIG. 1, suitably provided with a recess 19 which corresponds to recess 16 of the flange.

The fitting of FIG. 1 could be formed with a groove to receive the clamping device. The fitting could then for example be made of bent sheet metal or of plastic. The holding element of FIG. 2, Le. the head, could furthermore be made with stop surfaces turned forward. Neither in this or in any other respect is the invention limited only to the embodiments shown or described, but both the variations here indicated and also many others are possible within the framework of the following patent claims.

We claim:

1. A holding element for a ski boot having a sole with a forward section which abuts on both sides against a pair of opposed side supports disposed on a ski binding, which supports prevent movement of the boot sideways and forward in relation to the ski whereby the boot can be pressed by a pivotably mounted shackle in the direction toward the ski in order to be held firmly in the binding, which shackle is adapted to be locked in position against the upper front edge of the sole to retain the sole against upward movement away from the ski, said holding element comprising a member having an upwardly directed projection attached to said upper front edge of the sole and extending crosswise in relation to the ski over a substantial width of said front edge, said projection having side portions extending backward relative to the boot, each said side portion defining a rearwardly facing stop surface to abut against a forwardly facing part of the shackle when said shackle is in its locked position against the edge of the sole, whereby a dislocation of the boot backward along the ski is prevented.

2. A holding element according to claim 1, wherein said member is made of metal and has an L-shaped cross-sectional profile to define two flanges of which one flange is disposed adjacent the surface of said upper front edge of the sole, while the second flange is directed upward to define said projection and with its rear side forms the said stop surface.

3. A holding element according to claim 2, wherein said member is attached to said upper front edge of the sole by means of screws passing through the member from above their position being so determined by attachment holes disposed in the member, said screws having their heads after mounting of the member on the boot held down in the direction toward the sole by said shackle when the shackle is locked against said stop surfaces and the edge of the sole.

4. A holding device according to claim 1, wherein said pro- 5 jection is formed by a bead connected with the material of the 

1. A holding element for a ski boot having a sole with a forward section which abuts on both sides against a pair of opposed side supports disposed on a ski binding, which supports prevent movement of the boot sideways and forward in relation to the ski whereby the boot can be pressed by a pivotably mounted shackle in the direction toward the ski in order to be held firmly in the binding, which shackle is adapted to be locked in position against the upper front edge of the sole to retain the sole against upward movement away from the ski, said holding element comprising a member having an upwardly directed projection attached to said upper front edge of the sole and extending crosswise in relation to the ski over a substantial width of said front edge, said projection having side portions extending backward relative to the boot, each said side portion defining a rearwardly facing stop surface to abut against a forwardly facing part of the shackle when said shackle is in its locked position against the edge of the sole, whereby a dislocation of the boot backward along the ski is prevented.
 2. A holding element according to claim 1, wherein said member is made of metal and has an L-shaped cross-sectional profile to define two flanges of which one flange is disposed adjacent the surface of said upper front edge of the sole, while the second flange is directed upward to define said projection and with its rear side forms the said stop surface.
 3. A holding element according to claim 2, wherein said member is attached to said upper front edge of the sole by means of screws passing through the member from above, their position being so determined by attachment holes disposed in the member, said screws having their heads after mounting of the member on the boot held down in the direction toward the sole by said shackle when the shackle is locked against said stop surfaces and the edge of the sole.
 4. A holding device according to claim 1, wherein said projection is formed by a bead connected with the material of the sole, which bead in turn forms the said stop surfaces.
 5. A holding element according to claim 1 wherein said upwardly directed projection of the member has a centrally disposed recess to receive a part of said shackle that is directed forward in the longitudinal direction of the ski.
 6. A holding element according to claim 4 wherein said bead and the sole are formed of rubber, said bead being vulcanized onto the sole.
 7. A holding element according to claim 4 wherein the bead and the sole are made in one piece. 